We were lucky to catch up with Femi Olajire Akande recently and have shared our conversation below.

Femi Olajire , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My research project presently focuses on PEACE. I see the need to explore this path in a time like this when the fabric of our human existence is being threatened by war. I explore different media in art to promote the culture of peace. I was motivated to work in this direction after I did series of artworks during my graduate (MFA) program at the School of Fine Arts, Houston Christian University, Houston Texas. I used the current war between Russia and Ukraine as a case study on my thesis project. These are conceptual allegorical mix-media installation art of glazed ceramic wares visualizing the movement of squirrels responding to the clarion call to seek peace.

Arise Oh Compatriots I: The Call. 2022. Ceramics (Glaze stoneware Installation) H: 10” x W: 28”

Arise Oh Compatriots II: Response. 2022. Mix-media (Ceramics and Metal) H: 14” x W: 12”

Arise Oh Compatriots III: Ambassadors of Peace. 2022. Mix media: ceramics, wood and painting on cardboard installation. H: 38” x W: 14”

Arise Oh Compatriots IV: Message Delivered. 2022. Coffee and Pen on Paper. H: 48” x W: 31”

Arise Oh Compatriots V: Putin’s Reply???. 2022. Printmaking. H: 10” x W: 10”

??? The world is earnestly awaiting Putin’s reply…???

“Arise Oh Compatriot: Ambassadors of Peace” The art exhibit is a specified expression through the use of a medium to speed up the anticipated for peace in Ukraine. It is a non-violent visual art created for conflict resolution to promote peace in the warring zone in Ukraine. The artwork was created when the war in Ukraine was escalating with threat from Russia to use devastating nuclear weapons. The war that was supposedly to end in few weeks is almost getting to two years. It is my view that, only peaceful resolution could end the war rather than supplying ammunition to kill and to destroy, children, women and the innocents. The aged are dying every day, destruction of properties is on the higher side, farmers could no longer farm, there seems to be shortage of tea and wheat products around the world.

The artwork is metaphorically personified using squirrel symbolism as human representative of nations or world leaders to be led by America. The motion squirrels along the glazed broken wood signify the response from the world leaders while the American flag at the apex of the glazed broken wood represent the supposed America to lead the rest of the world leaders as ambassadors to mitigate the conflict.

Within this context of artistic symbolism, the squirrels are conceptualized as ambassadors of peace who are on the move to broker peace between the warring countries. The installation art offers a unique philosophy of personification of men on the move to mediate or dialogue in the warring zone. Within the context of artistic creation, the squirrels represent good ambassadors assigned to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia.

The painting attached to the installation art is visual representation of squirrel imagery with inscription “Peace Now” on the body. At the background of the painting are visual translation in texts the atrocities and effects of the war – deaths, sufferings, horror, hunger and destruction of properties going on at the war zone. The background of the painting is also names and symbolic colors to identify the two warring countries – Russia and Ukraine. The painting though subtle, could spur other individuals to actively participate in calling for mitigation in Ukraine/Russia conflict. I consciously and effectively exploited coffee color (hue) as dominant palette to make a statement that the Ukrainians could no longer drink coffee at peace in there private home, due to the war.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Femi Olajire Akande is a Nigerian born U.S.A. based contemporary Ceramic Sculpture Artist, a Peace Promoter and Entrepreneur. I am a holder of Master Degree in Fine Arts in ceramics (MFA, 2023) at Houston Christian (formally Houston Baptist) University, Houston, Texas. I had earlier graduated from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria, where I bagged National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Ceramics in 2005. I was admitted at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where I bagged a bachelor degree in ceramics 2018. I later proceeded to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology 2019 for my post graduate Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts with specialization in Ceramics and Glass Technology.

I am a manager at FOA ARTS LLC, at 12133 Dashwood Dr. Houston, Texas, USA, 77072, where I produce artworks to promote the culture of peace in visual forms on appreciation of cultural diversity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and inclusive relationships with students, foster love in schools and communities in America and the rest of the world. My focus and mission is to use artistic forms to lend my voice to encourage peaceful behavior and reject aggression and violence conflict or war between people and groups. I use my arts as publicity for peace and transformative message to people that we can all live a life guided by love and dedicated to peace. Peaceful coexistence is one of the key national goals of the United State of America and global goal. We can all find the path of peace by speaking the language of peace. I draw inspiration from my environment, different cultures, peace building organizations and reading educative books and stories on peace building. My artworks have given birth to a new visual expression that is educative and transformative inclined. I desire it to breathe peace and life changing effects into the souls of my audience.

The product of my artworks are aesthetically rendered as peace promotional items in unique ceramics mugs, plagues, illustrated coloring books on peace for children, drawings, paintings, sculpture, figurines among many others. These are showcase in an art exhibition, galleries, and use as promotional items in peace campaign organization/centers, schools, decorative stores, private collections, individual offices and homes. We are looking forward for patronage and partnership with any peace loving individual, peace builders group/organization to foster peace in our society.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Curiosity for change to impact positively into mankind, and give back to my community has always been my major motivation in this creative journey of discovery.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

At the birth of a new art form which always paves way for new home of beauty, there are depths of joy, peace and fulfillment that I cannot see but always experience anytime I conceive an idea and bring it to life. It refreshes my soul and fulfills dream of my existence.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.biafarin.com/artist/?name=femi-akande
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/femi_olajire_akande
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Femi Olajire Akande